The final day of BIC`s participation at the OSCE-ODIRH Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, built off of the discussions and findings of the previous two days and took a more forward looking view to the themes of gender equality and women`s empowerment.
The first morning session examined the implementation of the OSCE Action Plan for the promotion of gender equality. The presenters highlighted the importance of enhancing women’s participation in political and public life, viewing that currently women form an average of 26.7 per cent of members of parliament in national legislatures of the OSCE participating States. In addition, according to ODIHR’s gender audits of political parties demonstrated that candidacy selection procedures in political parties across the OSCE region remain largely non-transparent to the detriment of aspiring women candidates.
The second session took a more specified look at the issue of gender-based violence. According to the 2019 OSCE-led survey on the well-being of women in South-Eastern and Eastern Europe, 70 per cent of women, or an estimated 16 million, have experienced some form of sexual harassment. The survey also identified worrisome trends regarding the silence surrounding violence, victim blaming and increased vulnerability when partners have fought in armed conflict.
The session also made recommendations on further efforts needed to achieve gender equality and to prevent all forms of violence against women in the OSCE region. Amongst the main recommendations, there is a need to improving data and analysis on the topic. In addition, more resources are needed for multi-sectorial support, including national security sectors. Finally, OSCE participating members should increase the focus of their work on prevention, while also engaging with men and boys.
Later in the day, the conversation moved to the topic of humanitarian issues, including the combat of trafficking in human beings, refugees and displaced persons as well as persons at risk of displacement. As discussed, commitments made over the last two decades demonstrate a comprehensive human rights-based and victim-centred approach across all three OSCE dimensions. However, when it comes to implementation of these commitments, much still needs to be done. Currently, the world is facing its largest global displacement crisis since World War II, with approximately 70 million people displaced due to conflict, persecution or desperate living conditions in their home countries. Finally, the session also discussed the issue of gender specific challenges within the mixed-migration context and their interlinkages with vulnerability to trafficking in human beings.